Crankpin grinding machine



NOV. 16, 1948. LA FLEUR 2,454,186

CRANKPIN GRINDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 7

v avwa/wkw ELPHEGE D. LAFLEuR Filed Dec. 19, 1945 Nov. 16, 1948. Y E. D.LA I =LEUR CRANKPIN GRINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'ELPHEGE' D.LAFLEUR 3., Mum am Nov. 16, 1948.

E. D. LA FLEUR CRANKPIN GRINDING MACHINE Filed D80. 19, 1945- 3Sheets-Sheet 3 H PHEGE D. lAFLtu/a WM warm Patente d Nov. 16, 1948CRANKPlN GRINDING momma:

Elphege D. La Fleur, Lancaster, Mesa, assignor to Norton Company,Worcester, Mass., at corporation of Massachusetts Application December19, 1945, Serial No. 635,883 7 Claims.

This invention relates to grinding machines. andrmore particularly to adouble head crankpin grinding machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, thoroughlypractical, readily controllable crankpin grinding machine. Anotherobject is to provide a crankpin grinding machine with two opposed workheads to support and synchronously rotate the opposite ends of acrankshaft. Another object is to provide work heads having pot chuckswhich are adjustable in a direction normally to the axis of the spindleaxis precisely to set-up pot chucks for grinding crankpins of differentthrows.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gauge mechanism oneach work head precisely to facilitate adjustment of the pot chuck forgrinding crankpins of different throws. Another object of the inventionis to provide an indexing mechanism-for the work head to facilitate arotary indexing of the pot chuck to position suc- 'cessive crankpins forgrinding without unclamping the crankshaft in the pot chucks. Anotherobject is to provide a spring actuated cam to actuate a clamp jaw on thepot chuck to clamp and lock a crankshaft in a position and to provideahx draulic piston and cylinder to release said clamp j aw.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements,

and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to behereinafter described, and the scope of application of which will beindicated in the following claims.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view.

taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. '1, showing the chuckindexing mechanism,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale takenapproximately on the line' 5-5 of Fig. 2. showing the chuck actuatingmechanism,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the lefthand work head, havingparts broken away and shown in sections to illustrate the work indexmechanism,

Fig. '7 is afragmentary sectional view on a reduced scale, takenapproximately on the line l-l of Fig. 5 showing the chuckactuating'mechanism, and i I Fig. 8 is an elevation, and an enlargedscale,

of the gauge for adjusting the throw of the pot chucks.

As shown-in thedrawlngs a grinding machine has been illustrated having.a table It) which serves asa support for a pair of space aligned workheads H and H which support a pair of pot chucks l3 and I4 respectively.The pot chucks l3 and I4 serve to support and rotate the opposite end ofa crankshaft i5 while the pins of the crankshaft are ground by means ofa'grindlng wheel IS. A driving mechanism is provided for positively andsynchronously rotating the pot chucks i3 and I4 comprising an electricmotor II which is mounted on the work head II. The motor I1 is providedwith an armature shaft l8 which supports. a multiple V-groove pulley IS.The pulley'lB is connected by multiple V-belts 20 with a multipleV-groove pulley 2| which is supported on the left-hand end of arotatably mounted shaft .22 (Fig. 1). The shaft 22 is journaled insuitable bearings (not shown) in the work heads H and I2. A sprocket(not shown) on the shaft 22 is connected by means of a link chain 23with a sprocket 24! which is mounted on a rotatably mounted spindle 25in the work head ll.

The spindle 25 is connected in a manner to be hereinafter described tosupport and rotate the pot chuck I3. v

The driving shaft 22 is similarly provided with a second sprocket (notshown) within the work head l2 which is connected by means of a linkchain 26 with a sprocket (not shown) mounted on a rotatably mountedspindle 21 in work head i2. The work heads H and i 2 are substantiallyidentical in construction. consequently only one of the work heads hasbeen illustrated and described in detail.

As shown in Fig. 2 the spindle 2B is supported by means of a pair ofspaced roller bearings 30 and 3| within the work head I i. A sleeve 32which serves as a support for the pot chuck I3 is rotatably supported bya pair of end plates 33 and 34. The end plate 33 is adiustably mountedon collar 38 which is mounted on left-hand end of thespindle 25. Theplate 34 is adjustably mounted on a flange 31 which is preferably formedintegral with the spindle 2'8.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the pot chuck 13 in a directionnormal to the axis of rotation of the spindle 2B, the plates 38 and 84are provided with suitable adjusted mechanism so that the pot chuck I3may be readily adjusted to position a crankshaft havingcrankpins of apredetermined throw. The plate 33 is provided with plurality ofelongated slots 33. 33, 43 and 4|. A plurality of clamp screws 42. 43,44 and 45 pass through the elongated slots 33, 33,43 and 4I,respectively, and are screw threaded into the collar 36,. It will bereadily apparent from the foregoing disclosure that the plate 33 may bereadily adjusted by loosening screws 42. 43, 44 and 43 and then movingthe plate 33 into the desired position after which the screws are againtightened to clamp the-plate 33 into rigid engagement with the collar33.

A similar adjusting mechanism is-provided for the plate 34. The plate 34is provided with the plurality of elongated slots 43, 41, 43 and 43.Clamp screws 33, 3|, 32 and 33 pass through the elongated slots 43, 41.43 and 43, respectively. and are screw threaded into the flange 31. Itwill be readily apparent that by manipulation of the clamp screws abovedescribed, the plate 34 may be readily adjusted to the spindle 23 andthe flange 31 to facilitate positioning of the pot chuck I3.

In order that sleeve- 32 may be readily adjusted so as to position thepot chuck I3 for grinding a crankshaft for predetermined crank throws anadjustable gauge mechanism is provided to facilitate preciselypositioning the plates 33 and 34. A gauge block 53 having a plurality ofradially projecting gauge'arms is rotatably supported by a clamp screw31 on the collar 33. A similar gauge block 33 is rotatably supported bya clamp screw 33 on the flange 3,1. The gauge blocks-55 and 53 are shownin detail (Fig.

i .4 the bar 39 is moved toward the left (Figs. 2 and 7) the clampingjaw 34 is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig.3) to clamp thecrankshaft I in position. The cam 13 is so'shaped that in a clampedposition the clamping jaw 34 is positively locked to securely-hold acrankshaft ,in said pot chuck. In order to actuate the slide bar 33, arod II is flxably mounted thereto and is slidably supported within thesleeve 32. A

compression spring 12 is provided normally to,

exert a pressure in a direction to move the bar 33 and cam.|3 toward theleft ,so as 'to actuate the clamp jaw 34 to'clamp the crankshaft I3within the pot chucks I3. An identical mechanism is provided within thework head l2 for actuating the clamping jaw of the pot chuck I4.

It is desired to .provide a suitable hydraulic mechanism whereby ifdesired both of the clamping jaws may be unclam-ped synchronously so asto release a. crankshaft I3 after a grinding operation has beencompleted.v This mechanism may comprise hydraulic cylinder 13 which issupported by means of a, bracket I3 on the work head 8). After adjustingthe gauge blocks to the de- After work head II, a similar adjustment ismade on the work head I2 so as to position the pot chuck l4 relative tothe spindle 21 so that both of the pot chucks are located to support androtate the opposite ends of the crankshaft I3.'-

The pot chucks I3 and I4 are identical in construction, and consequentlyonly one of the chucks I3 has been illustrated in detail. This chuckcomprises a block 33 which is fixedly mounted on a projecting boss onthe sleeve 32. The block 33 is provided with a V-shaped surface 3I tosupport and locate the end of the crankshaft I3. A clamping jaw isprovided for clamping the crankshaft I5 into rigid engagement with thev-shaped supporting surface 3|. The clamping jaw 34 is mounted on aright-hand end of a rock shaft 33. The rock shaft 33 isrotatablyjournaled in the sleeve 32. A rock arm 33 (Fig. 2) is mounted on aleft-hand end of the rock shaft 35. .A spherically shaped roller 31 ismounted on the lower end of the rock arm 33.

A compression spring 33 (Fig. 5) is provided normally to maintain thejaw 34 in an unclamped position. In order to clamp the jaw 34 a slidebar 33 is slidably supported-to the sleeve 32. The slide bar 33 isprovided with a cam surface I3 which is arranged to engag t oller 31..When

i I. A piston 11 is slidably mounted within the cylinder 15. The piston11 is provided with an integral piston rod 13, which is arranged insubstantial alignment with therod I I. A compression spring '13 normallyserves to maintain the piston 11 in its left-hand end position (Fig. 2).

When it is desired to unclamp the jaw 34, fluid under pressure ispassedthrough a. pipe 83 into a cylindrical chamber iii to move thepiston "I1 toward the right (Fig. 2). This movement of the piston 11causes the piston rod I3 to move into engagemerit with the rod II and tomove it toward the right. The movement of the rod 'II toward the rightserves to move the slidebar 33 also toward the right to shift the cam I3so that the released compression of the spring 33 rocks the clamping jaw34 in a clockwise direction to unclamp a crankshaft I5 supported in thepot chuck I3.

A similar hydraulic piston and cylinder mechanism is provided for thework head I2 to unclamp the pot chuck I4. This mechanism is identicalwith that just described and consequently has not been illustrated ordescribed in detail. If desired, the two cylinders may be connected to asingle control valve (not shown) so that both of the pot chucks may beunclamped or clamped simultaneously.

' It is desirable to provide a rotary indexing mechanism for the potchucks I3 and I4 so that the chucks may be readily indexed to positionsuccessive crankpins for grinding operations. This indexing mechanismmay comprise an indexing plate 33' which is keyed on the left-hand endof the sleeve 32. Theindex plate 33 is provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposed notches 33 and 31 (Fig. 4) A slide bar 33 isprovided with an elongated slot 33 which surrounds the projecting end ofthe rod II. The bar 33 is slidably supported relative to plate 33 bymeans of astud 33 and a diametrically opposed hollowstud 3i which areslidably supported in correspondingly shaped apertures formed in theplate 33. The stud 33 is provided with an integral in dex pawl 32 whichis shaped to mate with the notches 33 and 31 in the index plate 33. Acompression spring 33 within the hollow stud 3| normally serves tomaintain the bar 33 in the right-hand end position (Fig. 4). with pawl32 in engagement with the notch 33. When it is desired to index the potchuck I3, the bar 33 is moved manually toward the left (Fig. 4) to movethe pawl 32 out of engagement with the notch 8 8 after whichihe potchuck I! together with the sleeve 32 and the index plate 85 may berotatedfrelative to the end plates 88 and 34 to reposition thecrankshaft I! being ground. In the present case cr'ankpins being groundare 180 apart, consequently the pot chuck I3, the sleeve amend the indexplate as may be rotated 180 to position the notch 81 in alignment withthe pawl 92 after which the bar 88 may be released and the release ofthe compression spring 93 moves the pawl 92 into operative engagementwith the notch 81.

In order to facilitate the above indexing movement, a notch 84 isprovided-in the bar 88. A pivotally mounted latch 95 is mounted on theplate 88 so that when the bar- 88 is moved to disengage the pawl 82, thelatch 95 may be swung in a counterclockwise direction into engagementwith the notch 84 so as to hold the bar 88 and the pawl 82 in adisengaged position during the index movement of the pot chuck I 3. Asimilar index said chuck relative to said spindle, and means including agauging block having a plurality of gauging members, said gauge blockbeing adjustably mounted on said head to facilitate adjustment of saidchuck relative to said spindle in a radial direction normal tOrthBspindle axis for grinding crankpins having different throws.

2. In a crankpin grinding machine having a v a hollow rotatable spindletherein, means to romechanism is provided for the work head' 12.

Since this mechanism is identical with that above described, it is notdeemed necessary to illustrate and describe this indexing mechanism indetail.

ork stop control mech- If desired, a suitable anism may be provided tofacilitate stopping the electric motor I'I so that the pot chucks l8 andi4 may be stopped always in an upright position tained in engagementwith the cam 96. The'cam and follower mechanism may be interconnectedwith an electrical control mechanism identical with that disclosed inthe U. S. reissue Patent 20,127 to H. A. Silven, dated August 6, 1936,to

which reference may be had for details of disclosure not containedherein.

The operation of this improved crank grinding machine will be readilyapparent for the foregoing disclosure. In order to set themachine up forgrinding a given crankshaft, the pot chucks l8 and I4 are first adjustedto position the sleeve 82 in the head II, and the corresponding sleeve(not shown) in the head i2, 50 as to support the crankshaft IS in apredetermined position with the crankpin to be ground arranged in axialalignment with the axis of rotation of the spindle 25. After both of theheads have been adjusted for crank throw, the pressuremay be releasedwithin the hydraulic cylinders so as to release the compression of thesprings I2 so as to clamp the opposite ends of the crankshaft .ISrigidly'in position within the pot chucks l8 and M. the crankpinshavebeenground the sleeve" may be indexed in a manner above described toposition-the next pins in grinding position.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this inventionapparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth togetherwith many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. Asmanypossible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as manychanges might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is ,to beunderstood that 1 all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in Aftertate said spindle, a disk-shaped plate adjustably mounted on each end ofsaid spindle, a sleeve rotatably supported in. said plates, a pot chuckon one end of said sleeve, means including a plurality of elongatedslots in each of said plates, clamping screws passing through said slotsand screw threaded into said spindle to facilitate adjusting said platesand said sleeve in a direction normal to the axis of said spindle, andmeans including a gauge block having a plurality of gauge members tofacilitate adjusting and positioning said sleeve relative to saidspindle for grinding crankpins having different throws.

' 4. In a crankpin grinding machine having a pair of spaced aligned workheads thereon, a hollow spindle rotatably mounted in each of said heads,an electric motor synchronously to rotate each of said spindles,adisk-shaped plate adjustably mounted on each of said spindles, a sleevewithin each of said spindles which are ro-,- tatably supported by saidplates, a pot chuck on adjacent ends of said sleeves to support theopposite ends of a work piece and an indexing mechanism including anindex plate on each of- .said sleeves, and an index pawl supported byone .of said plates on eachof said spindles 'to facilitate .to supportthe opposite ends of the work piece,

and means including a rotatable turret-type gauge to adjust each of saidptates relative to the spindle so as to facilitate adjusting theeccentricity of said sleeves and pot chucks relative to said spindle togrind crankpinslhaving different I throws.

the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and notin -a. limiting sense. v Iclaim:

1. In a crankpin grinding machine having a 6. In a crankpin grindingmachine having a pair of spaced aligned work'heads thereon, a hollowrotatable spindle mounted in each of said heads, an electric motorsynchronously to rotate each of said spindles, a disk-shaped plateadjustably mounted on each of said spindles. an eccentricaliy mounte'disleeve'within each 01' said spindles which is rotatably supported bysaid plates, a pot chuck on the adjacent ends of said sleeves to supportthe opposite ends of the work piece, an index mechanism to facilitateindexing accuse means including an electric motor synchronously saidsleeve relative to said spindles successively to position a plurality ofcrankpins in predetermined grinding positions, and means including arotatable turret-type gauge to adjust each of said plates relative tothe spindle so as to facilitate adjusting the eccentricity of saidsleeves and hollow rotatable work spindle in each of said mountedspring-actuated cam on said sleeve to actuate said jaw, a fluid pressurepiston and cylinder to actuate said cam to release said clamping jaw,and means to adjust the position of each of said sleeves in a directionnormal to the spindle axis to facilitate grinding crankpins havingdiflerent throws.

8. In a crankpin grinding machine having a pair of hligned work headsthereon, a hollow rotatable work spindle in each of said heads, meansincluding an electric motor synchronously to retate both or saidspindles, an eccentrically mounted sleeve within each of said spindles,a pot chuck on adjacent ends of each of said spindles including apivotally mounted clamping jaw, a slidablymounted spring-actuated cam onsaid sleeve to actuate said law to clamp and positively lock'a workpiece in said chuck, a fluid pressure piston and cylinder to actuatesaid cam to release said clamping jaw, and means including a rotatablegauge block having a plurality oi projecting gauge arms corresponding tothe crankpin throwsto be ground to facilitate adjusting the position ofsaid sleeve in a direction normal to'the spindle axis.

9. In a crankpin grinding machine having a pair of spaced aligned workheads thereon, a hol low rotatable work spindle in each of said heads,

to rotate both or said spindles, an eccentricallr mounted sleeve withineach oi said spindles, apot chuck on the adjacent ends of each of saidsleeves to support the opposite ends or a work piece, said pot chucksincluding a work supporting member fixedly mounted relative to saidsleeve and a Di r- 1 otally mounted clamping jaw, means includinl a camto actuate said jaw, a compression spring to move said cam in onedirection to clamp said law, said cam being so shaped asto positivelylock said jaw in a clamped position, and a fluid pressure piston andcylinder to move said cam in 0D- posite directions to unclamp saidjaw.

10. In a crankpin grinding machine having a pair of spaced aligned workheads thereon, a

heads, means including arfelectric motor synchronously to rotate both orsaid spindles, and

adjustable eccentrically mounted sleeve within each of said spindles. apot chuck on adjacent ends of each or said sleeves to support theopposite ends or a work piece, each or said pot chucks including a worksupporting member fixedly mounted relative to said sleeves and apivotally mounted clamping jaw, means including a spring-actuated camtov clamp and lock said jaw, a fluid pressure piston and cylinder tomove said cam to unclamp said jaw, and means precisely to adjust theposition 01 each of said sleeves relative to said spindles in adirectionnormal to the spindle axes to facilitate grinding crankpins havingdifferent throws.

ELPHEGE D. LA FLEUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 855,320 Landis May 28, 19071,658,539 Stoner Feb. 7, 1928 2,113,388 Silven et a1 Apr. 5, 19382,161,206 Silven June 6, 1939 2,343,949 Bellinger Mar.'14. 1944

